2001 Pontiac GRAND PRIX: complaints, problems and recalls

2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAS LOST ALL LIGHTS -- INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR -- AT NIGHT ON HIGHWAYS. THIS BEGAN IN FEBRUARY/MARCH 2002 AND HAS CONTINUED RANDOMLY SINCE FOR A TOTAL OF SEVEN DIFFERENT OCCURRENCES TO-DATE. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, WITH EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT ON THREE OCCASIONS BUT NO RESOLUTION. NOW WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT UNLESS THE PROBLEM IS DUPLICATED WHILE IN THE SHOP, PONTIAC CAN DO NOTHING. CONSIDERING THE FACT IT ONLY HAPPENS AFTER THE SHOPS ARE CLOSED, GETTING THE VEHICLE THERE WHILE AN OCCURRENCE IS HAPPENIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010520 at NHTSA ↗

THE STEERING ON THIS CAR EXHIBITS "PLAY" AT THE CENTER POINT OF THE STEERING (CAR GOING STRAIGHT, NOT TURNING) AND HAS FROM THE FIRST DAY I OWNED IT. IT FEELS AS IF IT HAS A WORN OUT STEERING BOX SIMILAR TO A HIGH-MILEAGE, OLD CAR WITH RECIRCULATION BALL TYPE STEERING BOX INSTEAD OF A RACK AND PINION. THIS PLAY CAUSES THE CAR TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. THIS CONDITION IS EXAGGERATED IN RAIN OR SNOW/ICE CONDITIONS WHEN THE LACK OF STEERING INPUT AND "FEEL" CAUSES ONE TO OVER-COMPENSATE THINKING THE CAR I…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010697 at NHTSA ↗

2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAS LOST ALL LIGHTS -- INTERIOR DASHBOARDS AND EXTERIOR -- AT NIGHT ON HIGHWAYS. THIS BEGAN IN MARCH 2003 AND HAS CONTINUED RANDOMLY SINCE FOR A TOTAL OF TWO DIFFERENT OCCURRENCES TO-DATE. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, WITH EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT BUT NO RESOLUTION. ALSO, DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS EVERY TIME CAR IS STARTED. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 37,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014130 at NHTSA ↗

SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. WENT TO DEALER AND HAD IT RESET, WAS READING EGR BAD. CAME BACK ON NEXT DAY. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY FIXED EGR VALVE. PROBLEM RESOLVED. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 37,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014131 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON 10/8/2001, ACCORDING TO RECORDS- BRAND NEW VEHICLE HAD UNDER 40 MILES. ON JAN 15TH 2002 I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY GOING 60 MPH AND THE VEHICLE (DIED) STOPPED WITH NO WARNING SIGNS OF ITS FAILURE. POLICE OFFICER ASSISTED ME TO THE SHOULDER I THEN WAITED FOR TOW TRUCK. CAR WAS TOWED TO HULING BROS THEIR TECH'S FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL PRESSURE AND PUMP WAS NOT WORKING THEY REPLACED THE FUEL TANK MODULE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED ACCORDING TO THE TECH PRIOR TO ME PICKING UP THE VEHICLE THE TECH'S TEST DROVE THE VEH…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016979 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER EXPRESSED THANKS FOR AN INSPECTION THAT WAS PERFORMED ON THE CAR SEAT. MR...*AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017587 at NHTSA ↗

RIGHT REAR SEALED WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AT 49,700 MILES.

Owner-reported narrative. 49,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020683 at NHTSA ↗

AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATER WILL ONLY WORK ON MAX (NUMBER 5 BLOWER SPEED). BLOWER SPEEDS 1-4 DO NOTHING, HOWEVER, THE FAN? IN THE ENGINE COMES ON WHEN FAN BLOWER SWITCH IS TURNED TO ANY ON POSITION. THIS CAR HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS. NOW I SEE WHY THE FOREIGN CAR MARKET IS BOOMING BECAUSE OF THEIR QUALITY AND RELIABILITY. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 41,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023407 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-08-07 (August 7, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 2001-02-01 (February 1, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINIVANS. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WERE BUILT WITHOUT THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF GENERANT, WHICH PRODUCES THE GAS THAT FILLS THE AIR BAG. SOME WERE BUILT WITH A DOUBLE LOAD OF GENERANT AND SOME WERE BUILT WITHOUT GENERANT.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT WOULD TRIGGER A PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A DOUBLE LOAD OF GENERANT CAN CAUSE THE INFLATOR MODULE TO EXPLODE. IF THE AIR BAG MODULE EXPLODES, METAL AND PLASTIC DEBRIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANT. A MODULE WITH NO GENERANT WOULD NOT INFLATE THE AIR BAG, AND THE OCCUPANTS COULD RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE. TELEPHONE CALLS WERE MADE TO OWNERS ON JANUARY 29, 2001. FOLLOW UP OWNER MAILING BEGAN ON APRIL 17, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000.

Reported: 2002-12-09 (December 9, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A CHECK VALVE PIN. AN AIR BAG WITHOUT THE CHECK VALVE PIN COULD PRODUCE INCREASED PRESSURE AT THE ONSET OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND REDUCED PRESSURE AFTERWARD.

Consequence: THIS COULD INCREASE THE SEVERITY OF INJURY TO A PERSON WHO WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND WHO WAS CLOSE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AT THE TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. IT COULD ALSO REDUCE THE AB8ILITY OF THE AIR BAG TO PROTECT A RESTRAINED FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT #3.

Reported: 2008-03-12 (March 12, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 207,542 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L SUPERCHARGED V-6 ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES HAVE HIGHER FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET TEMPERATURES, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR EARLIER DEGRADATION OF THE FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET AND EVENTUAL OIL SEEPAGE.

Consequence: CERTAIN UNDERHOOD FIRES MAY BE CAUSED BY DROPS OF ENGINE OIL, FROM SEEPAGE OR SPILLAGE, BEING DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING. IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND, IN SOME INSTANCES, THE FIRE MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, ALONG WITH THE 1-3-5 SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. , FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. UNTIL THE REMEDY IS COMPLETED, GM STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT OWNERS OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS (1) THAT OWNERS DO NOT PARK THEIR VEHICLE IN A GARAGE, CAR PORT, OR OTHER STRUCTURE; (2) IF OWNERS NOTICE A BURNING ODOR, THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE; (3) USE PREMIUM FUEL (91 OCTANE OR HIGHER) IN THE VEHICLE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE VEHICLE'S OWNER MANUAL. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Reported: 2009-04-08 (April 8, 2009)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.

Consequence: IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM OR HTTP:WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2015-10-26 (October 26, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.